Vitiligo

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• Vitiligo Definition and Overview
• What Causes Vitiligo?
• What Are Vitiligo Risk Factors?
• What Are Signs and Symptoms of Vitiligo?
• What Specialists Treat Vitiligo?
• How Do Doctors Diagnose Vitiligo?
• When Should Someone Seek Medical Care for Vitiligo?
• What Is the Treatment for Vitiligo?
• What Medications Treat Vitiligo?
• What Are Vitiligo Surgery Options?
• What Follow-up Is Needed After Treatment of Vitiligo?
• Is It Possible to Prevent Vitiligo?
• What Is the Prognosis of Vitiligo?
• Are There Vitiligo Support Groups?
• Where Can People Find More Information on Vitiligo?

Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin disease in which there is a progressive destruction of the skin’s pigment-producing cells (melanocytes), resulting in areas of otherwise normal white skin devoid of melanin pigment. It is not unusual for hairs growing in areas of vitiligo to lose their normal color.

There are poorly understood environmental factors that seem to interact with genes which predispose one to vitiligo. There are numerous theories as to the origin of vitiligo. A condition indistinguishable from vitiligo can be induced in some individuals after topical exposure to certain phenol-like chemicals. Vitiligo is not contagious.

Although most cases of vitiligo seem to occur sporadically, as many as 20% of affected individuals seem to have a family history of this disease. Working in an industrial setting where there is significant exposure to phenolic chemicals may put individuals at risk.

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